Lawyer Monthly Magazine - February 2019 Edition

FEB 2019 35 Expert Insight www. lawyer-monthly .com About Paula Myers Paula heads up the Contentious Probate teamnationally and handles disputes involving trustees, beneficiaries and execu- tors. She deals with all types of challenges to Wills, which can involve issues relating to mental capacity, undue influence and Will irregularities. She also handles claims for financial pro- vision for spouses, cohabitees, children and maintained par- ties. She has particular experience handling farming dispute claims involving the doctrine of proprietary estoppel. She states: “This can be a very trying and emotional time for people who have often lost someone close to them and are then immediately faced with a dispute with a family member or someone close to them. My aim is to take away stress from clients and to shoulder that burden for themas we find a reso- lution and solution to their problem.” Firm Profile Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth is unlike any other law firm. Nationally acclaimed, with a strong international capability, they offer a broad range of legal services to national and international organisations and institutions, businesses and private individuals. Contact Paula Myers – Partner, Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth National head of Will, Trust & Estate Disputes Tel: 0113 394 6832 E: paula.myers@irwinmitchell.com W: www.irwinmitchell.com/private 1 https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2014/01/20/wills-and- probate | 2 Source: Arken | 3 Source: Arken | 4 Source: Arken 5 https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2014/01/20/wills-and- probate 6 https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2014/01/20/wills-and- probate my team to take on a new challenge each day. It is always good to see a dispute end, to achieve the right result for a client who can finally move on with their lives. On the other hand, what do you dislike? I find lawyers who point score to be quite a challenge, as to get through disputes people need to be pragmatic and work together. The dispute is not between the solicitors but the parties and our job is to guide our clients through that process without additional pain or stress where possible. That doesn’t mean that the lawyers will always agree, but it is possible to make points well without aggression and without the need for emotive language. Over your years of practice, how have you seen the legal sector change? What changes are you looking out for that will affect the next generation of lawyers? I think that clients are much savvier these days and much more alive to the legal process and the levels of service to expect. Clients now tend to explore their options with a number of firms before committing to instructing you, whereas previously, if a client called you or walked through the door, they had already decided to give you their work. When I look at our reviews it is clear that our clients expect that we will get the law right Knowledge about the ‘Rules of Intestacy’ (when there is no will or a void will) is low. 1 in ten (10%) of adults know what they are and how they work. Over a third (34%) have never heard of them 6 . and that we will follow any process correctly. What they are looking for and what they praise us for is our attitude and approach to them and that often makes the decision for them. For younger lawyers, it is important to realise that we are in a service industry and so service really counts and there is not a second chance to get it right. LM I would always recommend instructing a qualified specialist to document your wishes